Choosing a sixth form that educates children for the future
The Brokerage Citilink offers a Pathway of opportunities for talented young Londoners who are aiming towards a future career in business, finance, professional services or corporate law. Photograph: Petchey Academy
As the pressure on students increases with harder linear exams, it is essential that sixth forms don’t lose sight of their primary responsibility to develop well rounded independent thinkers who can positively contribute to a modern British society both inside and outside the workplace.
In a technological world where young people are having to grow up quickly and learn to manage and assess risk both on and offline it is imperative that schools work with parents to give them the skills to make the right life choices.
The careers landscape is changing at a frightening pace with government driving change in education. Educationalists must now ask: are we preparing children successfully for careers that may not even exist yet?
Sixth form is a key period of academic, social and emotional development for students and it is important to remember that educating young adults requires a fine balance between focusing on developing a passion for their subjects but also a curiosity for the working world beyond.
The curriculum needs to be innovative and focus on growing the individual by fostering critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and social development.
At the Petchey Academy we set high targets to nurture ambition, but equally value the personal skills which make students successful in life. We are educating them not only for further education and careers but to be valuable citizens.
It is widely agreed by business leaders that schools focus so much on attainment that young people lack critical skills for functioning efficiently in the real world of work. “More important to us is a candidate’s work experience, non-academic achievements and their leadership potential.”(Head of student recruitment, Deloitte).
We don’t shy away from fostering healthy competition in a supportive team environment and teach performance and public speaking skills, the importance of preparation and how to interact and assist those with different abilities.
We are lucky enough to work with major corporations such as Bloomberg, UBS, Barclays and the Jack Petchey Foundation to give real world work experience and for students to partake in fantastic enrichment activities from the young leaders programme to entering a Robotics competition in New York!
We also wholeheartedly believe that careers education and guidance provision is an integral part of the curriculum, raising their aspirations and preparing them to engage with the real world of work.
Jack Petchey, our sponsor and renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, is also keen to ensure that our students are career ready. Therefore, we offer opportunities for structured work experience in Year 12 & 13 with a one day per week placement for all vocational/ BTEC pathways.
Annual taster day at Kings College London for our future medics to gain an insight of what studying medicine at university truly entails. Photograph: Petchey Academy
At University Gateway we offer a friendly and supportive environment built on traditional values and academic excellence, where each student is provided with high quality care, guidance and support through a personal tutor alongside support and advice from our trained external professionals.
When choosing a sixth form of course academic results matter but it is the education of the whole individual that creates a young person who is ready to take on the challenges of further education or the leap straight into industry.
We see our leavers successfully go on to top universities, internships at some of the world’s largest companies and into vocational careers and we are incredibly proud of the excellent role models they have become.
“Preparation for higher education builds on the exemplary advice and support provided in earlier years so that students are well prepared for the rigour of academic studies.
“Students draw on the support of the academy careers advisor whose work with them is well supplemented by an external consultant, talks, visits to universities, and access to appropriate software.” Ofsted 2015
To find out more contact Mrs Shenton, Communications & Marketing Manager, visit our website or come in and see us!
Email: laura.shenton@petcheyacademy.org.uk
Tel: 020 7275 1537
More information at petcheyacademy.org.uk/